Beverage preparation machine

ABSTRACT

A beverage preparation machine includes a main housing, a brew head having an outlet for discharging a prepared beverage, a water reservoir, and a water path for conveying water from the water reservoir to the brew head. The water reservoir is movable with respect to the main housing between a storage configuration and a beverage dispensing configuration. The water reservoir may be non-removable from the main housing. The water reservoir may include a dual-purpose lid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Great Britain Application No.1419347.8, filed Oct. 30, 2014, and which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a beverage preparation machine. Inparticular, it relates to a compact beverage preparation machine.

BACKGROUND

Beverage preparation machines for producing beverages such as coffee andtea are known in the art. In recent years beverage preparation machineshave been developed for domestic use which utilise pre-packagedcontainers of beverage ingredients. These containers may take a range offorms including, for example, porous pads, sachets, pods, capsules andcartridges. Typically, such beverage preparation machines are configuredto dispense hot beverages such as coffee and tea but may also be used todispense other beverages. In the domestic setting it is normal toposition the beverage preparation machine on a worktop in a room such asa kitchen where it is close to sources of water and electrical power.However, known beverage preparation machines, in particular thoseconfigured to dispense from pre-packaged containers of beverageingredients, may take up valuable worktop space which may be needed atother times for other reasons, e.g. food preparation. However, suchbeverage preparation machines are not routinely put away off the worktopwhen not in use since such beverage preparation machines are usuallyrelatively heavy due to dense internal components such as pumps andwater heaters.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provideda beverage preparation machine comprising:

-   -   a main housing;    -   a brew head having an outlet for discharging a prepared        beverage;    -   a water reservoir; and    -   a water path for conveying water from the water reservoir to the        brew head;    -   wherein, the water reservoir is movable with respect to the main        housing from a storage configuration, in which the water        reservoir is located at least partially beneath the brew head,        and a beverage dispensing configuration, in which the water        reservoir is moved away from underneath the brew head so as to        create a void space beneath the outlet of the brew head; and    -   wherein the water reservoir is non-removable from the main        housing.

Advantageously, by making the water reservoir movable between storageand beverage dispensing configurations a more compact storage format ofthe beverage preparation machine can be achieved. In addition, bylocating the water reservoir in the storage configuration at leastpartially beneath the brew head the beverage preparation machine can bemade even more compact in its storage configuration compared to knownbeverage preparation machines. This may be achieved by changing thenormal layout for domestic beverage preparation machines so that in thestorage configuration the water reservoir is located underneath the brewhead (typically at a front of the beverage preparation machine) ratherthan, say, at a rear of the beverage preparation machine distal the brewhead which tends to increase the overall depth of the beveragepreparation machine. The void space beneath the outlet of the brew headcreated in the beverage dispensing configuration may be used to receivea receptacle, for example a cup, mug or carafe, into which the preparedbeverage is dispensed. Thus, according to the present disclosure, thevoid space for the receptacle is created only when needed. The morecompact storage configuration of the beverage preparation machine hasthe advantage that less worktop space is taken up by the beveragepreparation machine when it is not being used. This reduces the need ordesire to put the beverage preparation machine away off the worktopbetween uses. If and when the beverage preparation machine is put awaythen the compact storage configuration reduces the space required.

The water reservoir in this aspect of the present disclosure is designednot be disconnected from the main housing during use, even duringrefilling or emptying of the water reservoir. Thus, there may be apermanent connection between the water reservoir and the water path andthe connection may only require a non-return valve to prevent fluid flowfrom the main housing into the water reservoir. Configuring the waterreservoir as non-removable from the main housing allows for a simpler,more compact design since no seatable valve needs to be provided in abase of the water reservoir and no water reservoir station with amatching valve seat is required.

In the storage configuration the water reservoir may be located at leastpartially beneath the outlet of the brew head.

The water reservoir may be pivotally connected to the main housing at apivot point to enable the water reservoir to be pivoted between itsstorage configuration and beverage dispensing configuration. The pivotpoint may have an axis of rotation which is vertical. This may beparticularly preferred where the water reservoir is elongate having aheight which is relatively large compared to its width and depth. Thepivot point may be located at a front corner of the main housing.

The water path may comprise a flexible conduit which may extend throughthe pivot point to provide fluid communication between the waterreservoir and the main housing.

Preferably the water reservoir comprises a body that is at leastpartially transparent to allow a user to see at a glance the level ofwater contained in the water reservoir. In this way, the beveragepreparation machine of the present disclosure may be configured withouta water level sensor in the water reservoir if so desired.

The water reservoir may have a relatively small volume in order toreduce the size of the overall beverage preparation machine. Forexample, the volume of the water reservoir may be 700 ml or less.

The main housing may comprise at least a front face, two side faces anda rear face, wherein in use a receptacle for receiving a dispensedbeverage may be located in front of the front face; wherein the waterreservoir when in the storage configuration may be positioned adjacentthe front face.

Preferably a width of the water reservoir is limited such that when inthe storage configuration the water reservoir does not extend beyondeither of the two side faces of the main housing.

In the beverage dispensing configuration the water reservoir may extendlaterally from the main housing so as to increase the overall width ofthe beverage preparation machine compared to the width of the beveragepreparation machine in the storage configuration. Advantageously, thisincreases the stability of the beverage preparation machine in thebeverage dispensing configuration. It also allows the main housing ofthe beverage preparation machine to be made narrower since, in thebeverage dispensing configuration, the stability of the overall beveragedispensing machine is not dependent only on the main housing. Rather,the water reservoir acts as an additional stabilising means.

The water reservoir may comprise a dual-purpose lid which may be mountedon the water reservoir when the water reservoir is in the storageconfiguration to close a mouth of the water reservoir, and which may beconnected to the main housing to form a cup stand for a receptacle whenthe water reservoir is in the beverage dispensing configuration.Advantageously, this reduces the number of components required for thebeverage preparation machine, allowing a reduction in manufacturingcosts and allowing a more compact storage configuration to be achieved.

A front face of the main housing may comprise one or more sets ofmounting points for connection of the dual-purpose lid. For example, twosets of mounting points may be provided at different heights to allowthe dual-purpose lid to be positioned at a lower location and a higherlocation for accommodating taller and shorter receptacles respectively.In addition, even taller receptacles may be accommodated by not usingthe dual-purpose lid and instead resting the receptacle on the worktop.

The dual-purpose lid may comprise a receptacle for collection of liquidin use when functioning as a cup stand. The receptacle may be defined bya base wall and an upstanding side wall, wherein the upstanding sidewall preferably has a height in the range of 2 to 12 mm and/or a volumeof liquid able to be held by the receptacle is preferably in the rangeof 6 to 15 ml. The receptacle may be sub-divided into a plurality ofsegments by a series of ribs, wherein an upper free edge of the ribs mayform a plurality of support points for a receptacle when thedual-purpose lid is functioning as a cup stand. A base wall of thereceptacle may be un-apertured.

In the storage configuration the beverage preparation machine may have afootprint of less than or equal to 250 mm in depth and less than orequal to 100 mm in width. In one example the footprint is 235 mm indepth and 95 mm in width. When the water reservoir is moved into thebeverage dispensing configuration the overall width of the beveragedispensing machine may be increased, for example, from 95 mm to 184 mmwhich increases the stability of the beverage preparation machine asdiscussed above. The height of the beverage preparation machine may beas little as 260 mm or less.

Activation of the beverage preparation machine may commenceautomatically on closure of the brew head. Advantageously, this allowsboth for easier operation of the beverage preparation machine andremoves the need to provide a dedicated start button for operation. Thisallows a reduction in costs and the size of the main housing.

The beverage preparation machine may be configured for dispensingbeverages from capsules, cartridges, pods, sachets or porous pads. Forexample, the brew head may by shaped, sized and configured to receiveone or more types of pre-packaged containers. Considering the preferredcompact size of the present beverage preparation machine thepre-packaged containers are preferably configured to dispense singleserving sizes of beverage.

In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a beveragepreparation machine comprising:

-   -   a main housing;    -   a brew head having an outlet for discharging a prepared        beverage;    -   a water reservoir; and    -   a water path for conveying water from the water reservoir to the        brew head;    -   wherein, the water reservoir is movable with respect to the main        housing between a storage configuration and a beverage        dispensing configuration, wherein in the storage configuration        the water reservoir is located at a front of the beverage        preparation machine; and    -   wherein in the beverage dispensing configuration the water        reservoir is located laterally off-set from a midline of the        main housing so as to increase the overall width of the beverage        preparation machine compared to the width in the storage        configuration.

The water reservoir may form a stabilising means in the beveragedispensing configuration.

As discussed above, locating the water reservoir at the front of thebeverage preparation machine may allow for a more compact storageconfiguration of the beverage preparation machine. In addition, locatingthe water reservoir at the front allows for easier access by a user tothe water reservoir in contrast to a water reservoir located at a rearof the beverage preparation machine. This is particularly useful in theoptional case where the water reservoir is non-removable from the mainhousing.

Further, as discussed above, locating the water reservoir laterallyoff-set from a midline of the main housing in the beverage dispensingconfiguration so as to increase the overall width of the beveragepreparation machine increases the stability of the beverage preparationmachine. It also allows the main housing of the beverage preparationmachine to be made narrower since, in the beverage dispensingconfiguration, the stability of the overall beverage dispensing machineis not dependent only on the main housing. Rather, the water reservoiracts as an additional stabilising means.

In the same manner as the first aspect, the water reservoir may bepivotally connected to the main housing at a pivot point to enable thewater reservoir to be pivoted between its storage configuration andbeverage dispensing configuration; and preferably the pivot point has anaxis of rotation which is vertical. In addition, the water path maycomprise a flexible conduit which extends through the pivot point toprovide fluid communication between the water reservoir and the mainhousing.

In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a beveragepreparation machine comprising:

-   -   a main housing;    -   a brew head having an outlet for discharging a prepared        beverage;    -   a water reservoir; and    -   a water path for conveying water from the water reservoir to the        brew head;    -   wherein, the water reservoir is movable with respect to the main        housing from a storage configuration, in which the water        reservoir is located at least partially beneath the brew head,        and a beverage dispensing configuration, in which the water        reservoir is moved away from underneath the brew head so as to        create a void space beneath the outlet of the brew head; and    -   wherein the water reservoir comprises a dual-purpose lid which        may be mounted on the water reservoir when the water reservoir        is in the storage configuration to close a mouth of the water        reservoir, and which may be connected to the main housing to        form a cup stand for a receptacle when the water reservoir is in        the beverage dispensing configuration.

Advantageously, use of a dual-purpose lid reduces the number ofcomponents required for the beverage preparation machine, allowing areduction in manufacturing costs and allowing a more compact storageconfiguration to be achieved.

A front face of the main housing may comprise one or more sets ofmounting points for connection of the dual-purpose lid. For example, twosets of mounting points may be provided at different heights to allowthe dual-purpose lid to be positioned at a lower location and a higherlocation for accommodating taller and shorter receptacles respectively.In addition, even taller receptacles may be accommodated by not usingthe dual-purpose lid and instead resting the receptacle on the worktop.

The dual-purpose lid may comprise a receptacle for collection of liquidin use when functioning as a cup stand; and preferably the receptacle isdefined by a base wall and an upstanding side wall, wherein theupstanding side wall preferably has a height in the range of 2 to 12 mmand/or a volume of liquid able to be held by the receptacle ispreferably in the range of 6 to 15 ml.

The receptacle may be sub-divided into a plurality of segments by aseries of ribs, wherein an upper free edge of the ribs forms a pluralityof support points for a receptacle when the dual-purpose lid isfunctioning as a cup stand; and preferably the base wall of thereceptacle is un-apertured.

The above aspects may further comprise one or more of the followingfeatures, singly or in combination:

The water path may comprise, for example, a pump for conveying waterfrom the water reservoir through the water path and a heater for heatingthe water prior to it reaching the brew head. The heater may be aninstantaneous flow heater.

There may be incorporated in the beverage preparation machine means foridentifying the pre-packaged container inserted in the brew head. Forexample, this may be a bar code reader for reading a bar code on thepre-packaged container, an RFID reader for reading an RFID tag on or inthe pre-packaged container, etc.

The main housing may include internal cable storage for holding a powercord of the beverage preparation machine.

The main housing may be provided with a visual indicator for displayingmachine status to a user. Preferably the visual indicator may be an LEDindictor. A single LED indicator may be used to allow for a simpleconfiguration—this is particularly appropriate where the beveragepreparation machine is designed to activate the dispensing of a beverageautomatically on closure of the brew head.

The beverage preparation machine of the present disclosure may beconfigured to dispense a wide range of beverages. In one example thebeverage preparation machine is enabled to dispense coffee beverages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail,for exemplary purposes only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage preparation machine accordingto the present disclosure in a storage configuration;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the beverage preparation machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the beverage preparation machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the beverage preparation machine of FIG.1 in a beverage dispensing configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the beverage preparation machine in thebeverage dispensing configuration and with a dual-purpose lid mounted toa main housing as a cup stand;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the beverage preparation machine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the beverage preparation machine of FIG.4 with some parts omitted to show inner detail;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the beverage preparationmachine of FIG. 4 with certain parts omitted for clarity;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of an alternative dual-purpose lidfor use with the beverage preparation machine of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another beverage preparation machineaccording to the present disclosure in its beverage dispensingconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an embodiment of a beverage preparation machine1 according to the present disclosure. The beverage preparation machine1 comprises a main housing 2, a brew head 3 and a water reservoir 4. InFIGS. 1 to 3 the beverage preparation machine 1 is shown in a storageconfiguration. In this configuration the beverage preparation machinecannot be used to dispense a beverage.

The main housing 2 comprises a base 14 having mounted thereto one ormore panels forming a front face 10, two side faces 11, 12 and a rearface 13 of the main housing 2. The main housing 2 has a generallyparallelepiped shape and the overall beverage preparation machine 1 hasa relatively small width w₁ in its storage configuration compared to itsheight h and depth d. In one example the width w₁ is 95 mm, the height his 260 mm and the depth d is 235 mm.

The brew head 3 comprises a brew head body 30 which projects from themain housing 2. The brew head body 30 may be formed unitarily with themain housing 2 or may be otherwise mounted or connected thereto. A brewhead outlet 31 is provided on a lower side of the brew head body 30 fromwhich beverage, in use, is discharged. The brew head 3 may be configuredto receive and hold one or more types of pre-packaged containers ofbeverage ingredients. To allow insertion and removal of the pre-packagedcontainers the brew head 3 may comprise upper and lower parts that canbe moved relative to one another to open and close the brew head 3. Thebeverage preparation machine 1 may be configured to activate andcommence dispensation of a beverage automatically on closure of the brewhead 3.

The water reservoir 4 comprises a body 40 formed from a transparent ortranslucent material and a base 41 to which the body 40 is fixedlymounted. The body 40 has an upper mouth 44 through which the waterreservoir 4 can be filled. A dual-purpose lid 50 is provided forselectively closing the upper mouth 44 which will be described furtherbelow. The water reservoir 4 has a relatively small volume for water ofup to about 700 ml. Preferably the width of the water reservoir 4 is nogreater than the width w₁ of the main housing 2 such that when in thestorage configuration the water reservoir 4 does not extend beyondeither of the two side faces 11, 12 of the main housing 2 as shown inFIG. 2.

The beverage preparation machine 1 comprises a water path that extendsfrom the water reservoir 4 to the brew head and is used to convey waterduring use. The water path may comprise a plurality of componentsincluding conduits, such as flexible hoses or pipes for transportingwater as well as units such as pumps, heaters and valves.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate how the water reservoir 4 is movable to allowthe beverage preparation machine 1 to adopt a beverage dispensingconfiguration as well as its storage configuration. In the presentexample, the water reservoir 4 is pivotally rotatable about a pivotpoint 42 located at a front corner of the main housing 2 at the junctionbetween the front face 10 and the side face 12.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show internal detail of the beverage preparation machine 1(although some parts are omitted for clarity). As best shown in FIG. 8,the pivot mechanism of the water reservoir 4 is achieved by providingthe base 41 of the water reservoir 4 with a hollow pivot pin 43 that isrotatably mounted to a hollow pivot shaft 15 of the base 14 of the mainhousing 2. The rotational axis of the pivot point 42 is vertical. Thisallows the whole water reservoir 4—base 41 and body 40—to be rotated tothe position shown in FIG. 4. As best shown in FIG. 4, the base 14 ofthe main housing 2 is provided with a projecting reservoir guide leg 16on a side of the main housing 2 opposite the pivot point 42. Thereservoir guide leg 16 is shaped and sized to engage in a recess 45formed in the base 41 of the water reservoir 4 when the water reservoir4 is in the storage configuration. Detents may be provided on thereservoir guide leg 16 and recess 45 to allow for a click-tightconnection between the two parts in the storage configuration.

As shown in FIG. 8, the water path of the beverage preparation machine 1may comprise a heater 19 and a pump 20. For reasons of clarity theinterconnecting hoses (and other components such as the PCB board andcontrol processor) have been omitted from the figure. Advantageously,the water path may extend through the pivot point 42 by utilising aflexible hose that passes within the hollow pivot pin 43 of the base 41of the water reservoir. This permits the water reservoir 4 to beoptionally non-removable from the main housing 2. In other words, thewater reservoir 4 may be designed not be disconnected from the mainhousing 2 during use, even during refilling or emptying of the waterreservoir 4. Preferably the water path, within the base 41, comprises anon-return valve to prevent reverse flow of water from the main housing2 into the water reservoir 4.

In the storage configuration of FIGS. 1 to 3 the water reservoir 4 islocated at least partially beneath the brew head 3. Preferably, thewater reservoir 4 is located beneath the outlet 31 of the brew head 3and the water reservoir 4 is positioned adjacent the front face 10 ofthe main housing 2 so as to minimise the dimensions of the beveragepreparation machine 1. It will be appreciated that in the storageconfiguration the water reservoir 4 is located at the front of thebeverage preparation machine 1 (the ‘front’ being defined as the sideintended to face a user of the beverage preparation machine 1 whendispensing a beverage).

When rotated to the beverage dispensing configuration, the waterreservoir 4 is moved away from underneath the brew head 3 so as tocreate a void space 18 as shown in FIG. 4 beneath the outlet 31 of thebrew head 3. The void space 18 so created allows the positioning of areceptacle to receive the dispensed beverage. This movement of the waterreservoir 4 also increases the overall width of the beverage preparationmachine 1 to a width w₂ as shown in FIG. 6 that is greater than widthw₁. This increases the lateral stability of the beverage preparationmachine 1 when dispensing a beverage.

As noted above, the dual-purpose lid 50 may be used in the storageconfiguration to close the upper mouth 44 of the water reservoir 4. Inthe beverage dispensing configuration the dual-purpose lid 50 may beconnected to the front face 10 of the main housing 2 to form a cup standfor a receptacle. To enable this, the front face 10 of the main housing2 is provided with one or more sets of mounting points 17 for connectionof the dual-purpose lid. In the illustrated example two sets of mountingpoints 17 are provided, each set comprising two holes that are shapedand sized to receive two L-shaped lugs 52 which extend from a rear edgeof a body 51 of the dual-purpose lid 50 as shown in FIG. 4. As seen inFIG. 5, the dual-purpose lid 50 may also comprise two support webs 53 onan underside of the body 51.

In use, starting from the storage configuration and with the waterreservoir 4 empty, the water reservoir 4 is first rotated into theposition shown in FIG. 4 so that the beverage preparation machine is inthe beverage dispensing configuration. The dual-purpose lid 50 isremoved from the upper mouth 44 and mounted to the desired mountingpoints 17 on the front face 10. Next a required amount of water ispoured into the body 40 of the water reservoir 4 and a suitablereceptacle is placed on the cup stand formed by the body 51 of thedual-purpose lid 50. Finally the brew head 3 is opened, a suitablepre-packaged container of ingredients is inserted and the brew head 3closed. Closure automatically initiates the brew cycle and dispensationof a beverage. Said brew cycle involves operation of the pump 20 andheater 19 to convey water from the water reservoir 4 via the water pathto the brew head 3 while at the same time heating the water to therequired temperature. Once dispensation has been completed the beveragepreparation machine 1 may be returned to the storage configuration inorder to minimise worktop (or storage) space until next required.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative design of dual-purpose lid 50′which may form part of the beverage preparation machine of the presentdisclosure. In the following, like components to those previouslydescribed have been referenced using like reference numerals. In thesame way as described above the dual-purpose lid 50′ may be used in thestorage configuration to close the upper mouth 44 of the water reservoir4 and in the beverage dispensing configuration the dual-purpose lid 50′may be connected to the front face 10 of the main housing 2 to form acup stand for a receptacle. As before, the dual-purpose lid 50′ isprovided with two L-shaped lugs 52′ which extend from the rear edge ofthe body 51′ of the dual-purpose lid 50′ as shown in FIG. 9 and whichengage in use with the desired mounting points 17 on the front face 10.As above, the dual-purpose lid 50′ may comprise two support webs 53′ onthe underside of the body 51′. An upper side of the body 51′ is not flatas above but instead comprises a receptacle 60′ for collection of liquidover-spilling in use from a receptacle or dripping from the outlet 31.The receptacle 60′ is defined by a base wall 61′, an upstanding sidewall 62′ and a flange 63′ of the body 51′. The receptacle 60′ ispreferably shallow with the upstanding side wall 62′ only having aheight in the range of 2 to 12 mm. Consequently, the volume of liquidable to be held by the receptacle 60′ is small and in the range of 6 to15 ml and is primarily intended to catch and hold drips at the end of asingle brew cycle and not to retain large quantities of fluid in theeventuality that the receptacle is removed from the dual-purpose lid 50′before the end of the brew cycle. In use, the dual-purpose lid 50′ isintended to be emptied and washed after each use and before revertingthe beverage preparation machine into the storage configuration. Thus,having a small volume for the receptacle 60′ is adequate and has theadvantage that the depth of the dual-purpose lid 50′ can be kept small.

The receptacle 60′ is sub-divided into a plurality of segments by aseries of ribs 64′ which extend upwardly from the base wall 61′. Theribs 64′ run radially inwardly from the upstanding side wall 62′ towardsa centre 65′ of the dual-purpose lid 50′ but stop short of meeting withone another. An upper free edge of the ribs 64′ forms a plurality ofsupport points for the receptacle in use such that the receptacle isheld clear of the base wall 61′. In this way the dual-purpose lid 50′ isenabled to function as a cup stand when mounted to the front face 10.The ribs 64′ also function to stiffen and strengthen the dual-purposelid 50′.

Preferably the base wall 61′ of the receptacle 60′ is un-apertured. Inother words no drainage point is provided in the base wall 61′, forexample at the centre 65′. This is advantageous since the dual-purposelid 50′ must function as a lid of the water reservoir 4 and beingun-apertured allows for better closure of the water reservoir 4.Consequently, the dual-purpose lid 50′ may be simply emptied and cleanedby upending the dual-purpose lid 50′ and draining any liquid through theopen mouth of the receptacle 60′.

In other respects the dual-purpose lid 50′ functions as described above.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative design of a beverage preparationmachine 1 of the present disclosure. In the following, like componentsto those previously described have been referenced using like referencenumerals. In most respects the design and function of the beveragepreparation machine 1 is the same as the design described above and willnot be discussed further. However, in this alternative design the brewhead 3′ is shaped differently and comprises an angled front face 32′that also forms a handle by which the brew head 3′ can be grasped andpivoted upwards to open the brew head 3′ to allow insertion of abeverage cartridge. In addition, the base 41′ of the water reservoir 4′illustrates the optional feature wherein the body 40′ of the waterreservoir 4′ may be detached from the base 41′. Preferably the base 41′is provided with a plurality of upstanding guide projections 47′ whichassist in guiding the sliding connection of the body 40′ to the base 41′and may also help to retain the body 40′ on the base 41′ by suitablemeans, for example an interference frictional fit or a snap-fitconnection.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:a main housing; a brew head having an outlet for discharging a preparedbeverage; a water reservoir; and a water path for conveying water fromthe water reservoir to the brew head; wherein, the water reservoir ismovable with respect to the main housing from a storage configuration,in which the water reservoir is located at least partially beneath thebrew head, and a beverage dispensing configuration, in which the waterreservoir is moved away from underneath the brew head so as to create avoid space beneath the outlet of the brew head; wherein the waterreservoir is non-removable from the main housing; and wherein the waterreservoir comprises a dual-purpose lid which may be mounted on the waterreservoir when the water reservoir is in the storage configuration toclose a mouth of the water reservoir, and which may be connected to themain housing to form a cup stand for a receptacle when the waterreservoir is in the beverage dispensing configuration.
 2. A beveragepreparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fluid connectionbetween the water reservoir and the water path is a permanentconnection.
 3. A beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1,wherein in the storage configuration the water reservoir is located atleast partially beneath the outlet of the brew head.
 4. A beveragepreparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water reservoiris pivotally connected to the main housing at a pivot point to enablethe water reservoir to be pivoted between its storage configuration andbeverage dispensing configuration.
 5. A beverage preparation machine asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the water path comprises a flexible conduitwhich extends through the pivot point to provide fluid communicationbetween the water reservoir and the main housing.
 6. A beveragepreparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main housingcomprises at least a front face, two side faces and a rear face, whereinin use a receptacle for receiving a dispensed beverage would be locatedin front of the front face; wherein the water reservoir when in thestorage configuration is positioned adjacent the front face.
 7. Abeverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein in thebeverage dispensing configuration the water reservoir extends laterallyfrom the main housing so as to increase the overall width of thebeverage preparation machine compared to the width of the beveragepreparation machine in the storage configuration.
 8. A beveragepreparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front face of themain housing comprises one or more sets of mounting points forconnection of the dual-purpose lid.
 9. A beverage preparation machine asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the dual-purpose lid comprises a receptaclefor collection of liquid in use when functioning as a cup stand.
 10. Abeverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein thereceptacle is sub-divided into a plurality of segments by a series ofribs, wherein an upper free edge of the ribs forms a plurality ofsupport points for a receptacle when the dual-purpose lid is functioningas a cup stand.
 11. A beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim1, wherein in the storage configuration the beverage preparation machinehas a footprint of less than or equal to 250 mm in depth and less thanor equal to 100 mm in width.
 12. A beverage preparation machine asclaimed in claim 1, wherein activation of the beverage preparationmachine commences automatically on closure of the brew head.
 13. Abeverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1 which is configuredfor dispensing beverages from capsules, cartridges, pods or pads.
 14. Abeverage preparation machine comprising: a main housing; a brew headhaving an outlet for discharging a prepared beverage; a water reservoir;and a water path for conveying water from the water reservoir to thebrew head; wherein, the water reservoir is movable with respect to themain housing from a storage configuration, in which the water reservoiris located at least partially beneath the brew head, and a beveragedispensing configuration, in which the water reservoir is moved awayfrom underneath the brew head so as to create a void space beneath theoutlet of the brew head; and wherein the water reservoir comprises adual-purpose lid which may be mounted on the water reservoir when thewater reservoir is in the storage configuration to close a mouth of thewater reservoir, and which may be connected to the main housing to forma cup stand for a receptacle when the water reservoir is in the beveragedispensing configuration.
 15. A beverage preparation machine as claimedin claim 14, wherein a front face of the main housing comprises one ormore sets of mounting points for connection of the dual-purpose lid. 16.A beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein thedual-purpose lid comprises a receptacle for collection of liquid in usewhen functioning as a cup stand; and preferably the receptacle isdefined by a base wall and an upstanding side wall, wherein theupstanding side wall preferably has a height in the range of 2 to 12 mmand/or a volume of liquid able to be held by the receptacle ispreferably in the range of 6 to 15 ml.
 17. A beverage preparationmachine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the receptacle is sub-dividedinto a plurality of segments by a series of ribs, wherein an upper freeedge of the ribs forms a plurality of support points for a receptaclewhen the dual-purpose lid is functioning as a cup stand; and preferablythe base wall of the receptacle is un-apertured.
 18. A beveragepreparation machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivot point hasan axis of rotation which is vertical.
 19. A beverage preparationmachine as claimed in claim 6, wherein a width of the water reservoir islimited such that when in the storage configuration the water reservoirdoes not extend beyond either of the two side faces of the main housing.20. A beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein thereceptacle is defined by a base wall and an upstanding side wall.
 21. Abeverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 20, wherein theupstanding side wall has a height in the range of 2 to 12 mm.
 22. Abeverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 20, wherein a volume ofliquid able to be held by the receptacle is in the range of 6 to 15 ml.23. A beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein thebase wall of the receptacle is un-apertured.